Valenzuela has five-win day

Patrick Valenzuela crept closer to the 4,000-win level when he booted home five winners on Sunday's card at SunRay Park in Farmington, N.M. He also had two seconds and a fourth from his eight mounts.

"Not a bad day at all," Valenzuela said Sunday evening as he was leaving for Durango, Colo., to visit one of his daughters. "Five wins, two seconds, and a fourth, wow!"

Valenzuela was under the radar on Saturday, finishing third with his lone mount in his first trip to SunRay Park. But he was a crowd favorite on Sunday when he went 3 for 3 early.

Valenzuela flashed his Quarter Horse form in the second race by taking Mr Special Eyes ($15.40) wire to wire. Said I Wouldn't ($8.80) then drew off to win the third race by six lengths. The jockey then won with Retsina Spring ($5.40) in the fourth.

Valenzuela was back in the winner's circle when favored Secret Ridge ($4) was a handy winner in race 6. Victorious Vee ($5.60) then drew off in the seventh race to be the 3,978th career winner for Valenzuela, a Colorado native.

After a brief family vacation, Valenzuela will head back to Bossier City, La., where he is riding at Louisiana Downs.

"I don't know after that," he said. "Maybe the Fair Grounds, maybe California."

Valenzuela had his license revoked in California last year following an arrest for DUI.